God Knows your Why

Motives are varied. Ask a church-goer on Sunday morning what their motivation was to get up, get dressed (often dressed up) and come to church and the truthful answers would be as varied as the Sunday weather changes in March. God knows - that's all that matters, and it matters greatly to Him.

I Chronicles 28:9,10

9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

In the Moment

A couple of weeks ago pro golfer Greg Owen blew it - a total choke job. Greg had a two stroke lead in the Honda Classic and was standing over a 4 foot putt on the next to last hole he needed to make the final hole a formality. Unfortunately Greg's putt missed slightly and slid a foot past the hole. He quickly went around to the other side of the hole to tap in the 1 footer - and he missed that putt too! Youch! He went on to lose the tournament on the next hole - he was obviously beyond shaken up by the complete mental meltdown. He admitted later he would likely be remembered as "the guy who choked".

This week I was reading my Sports Illustrated cover to cover - a weekley ritual I picked up from my father. A golf instructor/writer commented on Greg's meltdown with this statement - "Greg was in the tournament when he blew the putt - but he wasn't in the moment." That statement immediately made me do a double take. Being in the ______ event (fill in the blank - worship, job assignment, etc.) but not in the precise moment of that given activity. Aren't we all guilty of that. Or, worse, thinking beyond the moment - which takes the joy out of that moment. Why don't we live in the moment?

I think true Christian joy is in the moment, not the event.

Longing for Home

Nothing quite feels like home regardless of where home is. Come home from a journey, short or long, and you're eventually glad to be back on comfortable soil. The writer of Psalm 84 talks about longing for the final home, the ultimate home. I need to find that same longing. I need to feel less comfortable here, I need fewer desires here and more longing for there.

Psalm 84
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. [a]

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. [b]
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah

9 Look upon our shield, [c] O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

A Salt Ministry?

I was laughing quite wildly when my blogger friend Joe Hays commented on this article about the Liberty (aka Jerry Falwell U) University debate team.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11078887/site/newsweek/

As noted at the end of the article - it seems Mr. Falwell stated he wanted his debate students to have "a salt ministry", but the quote came out in Newsweek as an "assault ministry".

The question of the day is:

Is there a difference in these two ministries styles to a hard-line debate student from Liberty University?

Lying - which is worse

It is my impression that... you shouldn't scare Oprah....
Originally uploaded by Reynaud.

I'm wondering which sin is worse:

Lying to God or Lying to Oprah?

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=213584>1=7654

I think Oprah has become a religion in America.

Being Crafty

Spanish Fox
Originally uploaded by Prora.

I'm not sure where the notion that foxes were crafty came from - but the title fits - Crafty like a Fox.

God condemns craftiness -- Prov. 12:2 -- A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man.

Is there much worse than a crafty person? God tells us to not be that way - don't deceive, mislead, contrive or sneak around for the betterment of yourself at the detriment of others.

Rita Hits East Texas

Rhonda & Willie's Place 4
Originally uploaded by Michael T. Gilbert.

I'm not sure where this picture was taken, but it resembles my neighborhood in Lufkin, Texas, thanks to Hurricane Rita.

Thanks again for the notes. I'm still concerned for those in the Golden Triangle area of Texas and those in Lake Charles, LA, which is still in flood-type conditions - that area got hit hard.

We finally got power back at home today about noon - a very welcome site as it was approaching 100 degrees in Texas today. I'm still concerned for the elderly here, particularly those in outlying areas without power.

It appears as those we had 5 deaths related to Rita - one due to a falling tree, two to car accidents and two elderly patients that just couldn't handle the move.

It's the little things that bring happiness. I'm looking forward to crunching on a piece of ice this evening for the first time in days.

Hurricane Rita Update

Hey all, My first official check-in online. Sunday at 10:15 am - we have power and computers back up and running at my office - and unbelievably cable for internet.

The home is still totally without power. We are all alive and well. Lufkin got hit hard, but not near as hard as Jasper Texas, just 45 miles southeast of us. Lake Charles, LA got the brunt of this storm - so, keep that area in your prayers.We had a minor leak from wind/water, some missing shingles and just mess. My neighbor across the street got a major oak through his house. Everyone's ok, but we spent all afternoon getting that tree off his house -- and he's looking at a $50,000 repair job easily - thank God for insurance.

Lots of downed trees and downed power lines. My Admin's daughter attends college at Lamar in Beaumont - she'll probably be home for a couple of weeks as the Golden Triangle took the bulk of the Texas damage. But, all is ok, nobody hurt, just some sore muscles and lots of clean-up to do. Thankfully, the business will be cranking at full speed tomorrow a.m.

Appreciate all the prayers and positive energy - I felt it yesterday. We effectively got a Cat. 2 hurricane through our city, it was no fun, lots of stress on everyone, but, again, we are all fine.

Any reports you hear regarding shelters shutting people out in Lufkin are totally false. I'll go into that more later, but I can tell you I saw day care centers, gymnastic centers and homeowners bringing total strangers into their places/homes -- which is totally ill-advised by the Red Cross. But, we had probably 3,000 stranded people here as the storm was bearing down.

Keep far southwest LA, and the Golden Triangle of SE Texas in your prayers.

Hurricane Rita

At the ripe young age of 44 I'm about to experience my first major hurricane. Rita is about 10 hours from landfall and appears she'll be crashing in between Galveston and Beaumont/Port Arthur. My prayers are really with the Port Arthur area, they are far less equipped to take this storm. It appears the eyewall will come very, very close to Lufkin and we'll get heavy winds and rain. My only real personal concerns are a couple of big oak trees near my back yard and getting water into my office. The family will hunker down and stay safe.

The uneasy feeling you get in times like this is eery. Our fair city of 35,000 appears to have doubled. There are cars, RV's, trucks everywhere with their hoods up, folks have crept through and just run out of gas. Today, Friday, Sept. 23rd, we are hoping/praying that fuel trucks make it here and get these folks up and northward before nightfall. Of course, this scenario plays out in a dozen other Texas cities as well.

I have a feeling my next post will find me with a newfound respect for hurricanes.

Beautiful Song

One of the two or three most powerful contemporary Christian songs I've listened to has got to be Shawn McDonald's Beautiful. What a powerful proclamation of God's sovereignty.

Beautiful

Written by Shawn McDonald

As I look into the stars

Pondering how far away they are

How You hold them in Your hands

And still You know this man

You know my inner most being, oh

Even better than I know, than I know myself

What a beautiful God

What a beautiful God

And what am I, that I might be called Your child

What am I, what am I

That You might know me, my King

What am I, what am I, what am I

As I look off into the distance

Watching the sun roll on by

Beautiful colors all around me, oh

Painted all over the sky

The same hands that created all of this

They created you and I

What a beautiful God

What a beautiful God

And what am I, that I might be called Your child

What am I, what am I

That You might know me, my King

What am I, what am I

That You might die, that I might live

What am I, what am I, what am I, what am I

What am I

What am I

What am I

What am I

What am I

You can listen to a cut from it here:

http://www.shawnmcdonaldmusic.com/media.php

New Orleans Poverty Map

New Orleans Poverty Map
Originally uploaded by tonguetyed.

Lord, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty..
II Chronicles 14:11.

This map highlights the abject poverty conditions in New Orleans. Seems these people have been somewhat forgotten. Millions pour in, but where does the money go. So many questions remain.

Relationship built on Mercy

Nailed to the Cross
Originally uploaded by pashellabarger.

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us, he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14

"...Christ came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst." I Timothy 1:15

We know that Paul had a very personal encounter with Christ. He was moving from one place to the next, devouring Christians like a man possessed by Satan. Then Christ simply ask Paul why he was hurting him. Jesus asked for and received a very personal relationship with Paul from that point forward. For that reason, Paul always knew his heinous past sins had been erased because he believed the message of the Gospel.

So, the question is -- why do we have such trouble receiving the same pardon and mercy from Christ? The question is not -- why do we continue to struggle with sin because Paul continued to struggle with sin - he tells us that in his writings. No, Paul received mercy and then moved to the deep, quenching waters of a mercy-filled relationship with Jesus. And, because of that, Paul moved well passed the pettiness of superficial churchy-type issues.

And, much more importantly, Paul was able to fully embrace and understand the message of Christ - that Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Tear the Roof off the House

I'm not sure where that hip, slang phrase came from, but it should have come from the Gospels. As Jesus was teaching in a crowded home - people were pressing in, cramming in, doing anything to be near this great Rabbi. Some men - probably early engineers - decided the only way to get their crippled friend to Jesus was down through the roof. So, they literally tore the roof off the house to get to him.

His healing hand, comforting words, strong spiritual presence - whatever it takes was the cry of many stories we read about in the Gospels. A great idea conceived by such a great spiritual hunger? It appears so. Surely we can discover a route to the nearness of Christ - but only if we seek him.

The answer

If you want to know the answer....
Originally uploaded by omj.

Reading through I Samuel I'm reminded that God gave the people what they wanted (a king) even though he knew it was the wrong answer for the wrong reasons and would certainly produce painful results.

The Israelites never really believed that God was big enough. 2000+ years later do we believe Jesus is big enough and "the" answer - or is our "king" our denominational doctrine/agenda?
Kind of like the old 8-ball we used to play with. Turn over the ball for a standard answer to whatever question we dreamed up.

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." -Dr. Seuss

Give us a King

Pavilion
Originally uploaded by elsie!.

In Samuel Ch. 8, the Israelites ask God's prophet Samuel for a king. Demand is really a more appropriate word - they had to have a king. God responds to this request in vs. 18-24 in a direct, painfully wise, and not too kind response.

God knew the end result - the Israelits yet again wanted something "real" to worship - a king. And God was yet once again apparently not big enough on his own for a full worship experience.

Samuel told the Israelites what the result would be - in short, an over-bearing government and a loss of personal freedom. Hmmmm, could that be repeating itself today? I'm not getting all political here, just wondering if we want so badly for things to be "just right" here in our community at world at large, that we make requests of God that have no eternal bearing.

I Sam. 8:4-22

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead [a] us, such as all the other nations have."
6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle [b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

The Storms of Life

I began this post several days before people had Katrina on their minds constantly. Kind of funny in a way almost, the pictures of the most ferocious looking storms I could find digging around online prior to Katrina were weak at best.

The devastation by Katrina has left me speechless. The acts of kindness shown by the good folks of Texas and so many other places has rekindled my belief in the Christian community.

In a simple group of words - "Peace, be Still" - Jesus calmed a major storm on the sea, eased fears and moved on. His power brings peace - if we let it. His presence brings communion with him - if we find the time for the presence. His love brings healing - if we accept his unconditional mercy and pardon.

Our personal storms are usually self-inflicted - the fruit of some bad decisions or chronic sin. Jesus seems small and far during those times. The storm brings pain and, hopefully, him into so much clearer focus.

Katrina - Lord Bless Them

orleans-mother-katrina
Originally uploaded by indi.ca.

Proverbs 10:3 - The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

John 16:33 - It is in you, Lord Jesus, that we have peace. In this world we will have tribulation, but we will be of good cheer, because You have overcome the world.

Lord, we pray for this family and the thousands of others grieving right now. I pray for Eleseanne Coco and her mother and grandmother who were transported to Houston. Give them peace.

Travel the Road for Christ

I guess it was back in June when I was teaching the young(er) couples class at my church that I started watching Travel the road (http://www.traveltheroad.com) on my local Trinity Broadcast station. I was pretty geared up on Saturday night, couldn't sleep and found this show as I was surfing. It's kind of a cross between Survivor and, well,..... I really don't know what. These two guys - Tim and Will - cross the Third World globe with a really phenomenal camera guy in tow, and all are absolutely fearless for the Lord. They are truly doing some pretty wild and zany - off the wall stuff -- and I love it!

I highly recommend it, although I can't really say I'd be crazy if these guys were my kids. But, I am officially hooked on this show. Tim and Will are an inspiration in servanthood for Jesus, and every step they take is based on faith. Yes, they could have a far better plan, yes the organization is essentially non-existent, but it is so Jesus it grips you.

Anybody watched Travel the Road or heard these guys speak?

Being a Man of God - Mark Richt

I was listening to ESPNRadio a few days ago and clicked on an interview with a head coacha bout midway through. I didn't recognize the voice or the player names he was discussing, but, within just a few minutes I heard this man give 2-3 incredibly warm and authentic witnesses for his Lord. The topic quickly turned to the two eastern European children he and his wife had adopted. While this sounds a bit over-the-top, I might say this was the most sincere witness for God I've ever heard, certainly the most memorable in a long time.

Based on the title and pictures, it's no mystery I'm referring to Mark Richt, head football coach at the University of Georgia. I didn't know his identity, however, until the 3-4 minute interview was almost over. But, I had absolutely no doubt early on where his allegiance lay. Wow, it was powerful for such a short interview I can't quite put a finger on it, but I just felt I had really heard from authentic man of God. I'm now a Mark Richt fan. Here's one of dozens of links for Coach Richt and his witness.

http://poptop.hypermart.net/testcmr.html

Another Special Life in Christ:
Coach Mark Richt: On advice of our nephew, Paul Seybt, Betty and I watched the Georgia-Auburn football game on 16 November 2002. We were on a weekend get-away in Charleston, S. C. and watched the game on TV. UGA made a tremendous come-back to win the game in the last minutes. The sports person hurried up to coach Richt immediately post-game, "Coach, what is your reaction to your team's great come-from-behind victory?" "It's great! But first I'd like to give thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Wow...I sat up...who is this man? Not knowing anything about Mark, I couldn't wait to get home and do an internet search in hopes of finding his testimony. Here, from Atlanta Christian Weekly .com is a start:

UGA's Mark Richt is a Head Coach with a "Higher Calling"by Kyle Watson
The University of Georgia not only has a fine football coach. They have a man who has his priorities in the right place. Last Thursday, July 19 at First Baptist Church of Snellville men's dinner, Mark Richt shared his testimony before almost 900 men. After speaking with him and listening to his testimony, I learned that he is very sincere, humble, humorous and stern. He spoke of struggles after his first dreams didn't come true. He told us how his quarterbacking days in college were stalled by Jim Kelly, a star quarterback. His days at the Denver Broncos were ended by young John Elway's arrival at football camp. Later he tried his chances with the Miami Dolphins, only to have Dan Marino show up on the team. "This must have been God's way of showing me what a good quarterback looks like," said Richt, who later became a quarterback coach at Florida State University. Before becoming a quarterback coach, he coached a high school team that ended up with a 0-10 season. His struggles had gotten so bad that when he attempted to be an insurance man, he showed up on his first day of work only to see cops arresting and taking away his new boss. Some time later, he gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ after becoming a graduate assistant coach/quarterback coach. An incident where a FSU football player was murdered during a confrontation caused a meeting by Head Coach Bobby Bowden, where he spoke to the players about Christ. After that meeting, Bowden led Richt to the Lord. Although his parents divorced when he was a teenager, it is amazing how God has made him into such a loving family man. He really loves his wife and children. He works hard to divide his time between them and football. Richt spoke of how time consuming his position as Head Coach is. He praised his wife for being such a supportive spouse. With some of the off-season problems involving players getting in trouble, Richt spoke of how his goal is to be a role model for them. He doesn't just want to coach them on the field, he wants to teach them principles and disciplines. He hopes to teach them life lessons so that they will become better men. He strives to prepare them spiritually by his own example. He really cares for his players and wants them to "be great fathers one day." Coach Richt really loves Jesus. He seeks Christ in decisions by constant prayer and fasting. His motto is love and obey God. This coach spoke from his heart. As he said it best he wants to "serve the people instead of himself."
!!!give meyour commentsabout this true story!!!


Building a Family

Richt married Katharyn in 1987. They have four children. Two came along the usual way -- Jon and David. But two came in a very special way.
"We were in Sunday School class one day talking about the ills of society," said Richt. "We explored questions like `who's in charge of taking care of the poor and the elderly.' We felt like the church should do its share."
Also, Katharyn's brother and sister-in-law had previously adopted children from the Ukraine.
Months later, Katharyn was in the Ukraine, a former republic of the Soviet Union, arranging the adoption of two children, classmates in the same orphanage. She spent 31 days there while Mark spent about eight days. When they returned in July, 1999, they had Zack and Anya, in tow.
"They have been a special blessing to all our family," said Katharyn.

A Plastic Jesus to the World?

plastic jesus love you
Originally uploaded by eecue.

"Hey Bob, how goes it?"

"Just fine and you?"

"Fine. Hey, how about that Tiger Woods?"

"Awesome, man. Later."

"Yeah, later".

What does it take to be real and authentic? We know Jesus was real. He touched lepers, fed the hungry, spent time with the poor and oppressed, taught patiently and generally emptied himself completely for humanity.

But, what else? Didn't he speak in often plain, spiritual truth to people in the marketplace? Seekers like Matthew, Zachaeus, the woman at the well and Nichodemus responded. So, too, however, did the religious zealots. They responded with fear and loathing. He was real and he wasn't concerned if certain people didn't like his realness.

Being authentic is attractive, almost magnetic to those with aching hearts. It's uncomfortable to those consumed by the falseness, the plasticness if you will, of this world. They are controlled by plastic in their wallets, and they at times almost want to look plastic - no sags please.

What's on your heart? What has Jesus done for you?

Let someone know.